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What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Japanese travel restrictions” increased by 2,450% this week after the country updated its pandemic border measures to allow more tourists.
02/ With Media
This week, the travel community mourned the loss of Sandra Ramani, a renowned author and travel editor of Robb Report (1971-2022). In memoriam, her colleagues wrote, “Indeed, Sandra was widely traveled and, in addition to the US, had lived in England, France and Italy. But she had none of the cynicism or “seen it all” ennui that can infect even the finest writers over time. And she was always ready to help friends and colleagues with travel tips, hotel and restaurant recommendations or airline advice for their next adventures.”
Industry Insights
Destination weddings are trending more than ever due to the growing number of expenses for weddings in the U.S. Tropical weddings are trending in destinations such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.
Tourism boards in Cornwall, Derbyshire, Spain, and Portugal are preparing for an influx of tourists after the premiere of the HBO Max series ‘House Of The Dragon,’ the predecessor to Game of Thrones.
Ahead of Labor Day, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced plans to launch an interactive website displaying cancellations and delay policies for U.S. airlines.
Citi Bank partnered with Booking.com to launch a new travel booking platform, Citi Travel, giving cardmembers a place to compare hotel, air, and car rental options.
Germany announced plans to run the first-ever hydrogen-powered trains, to be released on August 31. The new rail line will replace the 15 diesel trains currently operating on the track.’
Aha! Airlines ceased operations in all cities effective immediately after parent company ExpressJet filed for bankruptcy.
Low-cost Icelandic Airline Play announced plans to launch a new flight from Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. to Reykjavik, Iceland – the fourth U.S. hub for the airline.
Government officials in Cancun ended the Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM) customs forms requirement, granting Americans a fast-track entry process.
Health-Related Updates
The Cayman Islands lifted the remaining COVID-related restrictions, allowing unvaccinated travelers to enter without providing any additional health-related documentation.
Japan announced plans to waive pre-departure testing for vaccinated travelers entering the country starting September 7. The daily cap of inbound travelers will remain, with the potential to increase from 20,000 to 50,000 in the near future.
The United States ban on unvaccinated travelers remains in place despite the CDC’s guidance update and loosening of travel restrictions worldwide.
Best Practices
01/ The Bad
Social media app BeReal prompts users at a random time each day to take and post an unfiltered front-and-back photo with a two-minute time limit. Instagram has been accused of copying BeReal’s concept with its new feature "IG Candid Challenges,” prompting users to share a photo to their Stories everyday at a different time within a two-minute time frame.
After announcing its sustainability initiatives in 2021, Google is being accused of greenwashing flights on its online search platform, to appear as having a lower environmental impact.
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